Latin American Guide: History Of The Paso Doble Dance History Of The Paso Doble Dance By Melanie LaPatin Who says the French can't be Spanish? Witness the Paso Doble. Meaning double step in Spanish, this ballroom dance for couples is set to Spanish march music that is reminiscent of a bullfight in the heart of Spain. It is the same style of music that is played when a bullfighter enters the ring to salute the audience before the fight, and again at the end of the fight, just before the kill. This assumes, of course, that the bull doesnt win the fight. The dance is lively and dramatic, with long sweeping steps and aggressive movements. It is a dance of preparation for battle and triumph in combat, just like the bullfights that inspired it. The male represents the matador, boldly and proudly entering the ring. The female represents the matadors cape, which he whips around with graceful elegance. The female also takes on the role of the bull or an adoring senorita dancing Flamenco. The tempo is brisk and measured but not fast, being about one beat per second. What truly makes this dance is the energy one puts into it and the level of dancing skill.

The Paso Doble as we know it today was invented in Southern France, and Pierre Lavelle made it popular with the upper crust of Paris in the 1930s. The close proximity to Spain was undoubtedly its inspiration. Although the French copied the Spanish music and movements, they named the steps in French. The Sur Place and Huit, for example. The dance is an elaborate pantomime of a bullfight, where the matador dances proudly around, confronts his enemy (the bull) and eventually emerges victorious. Movements by the male are proud and quick, in strong defiance, while the hand and arm gestures (particularly of the female) are often graceful and fluid. This is not a dance for a crowded dance floor, as it necessarily takes up a lot of room. It is a dance to be watched and enjoyed, usually at exhibitions, performances or competitions. Youre not likely to find a knowledgeable partner standing by the wall at your local disco. It is a performance dance. Experienced dancers find the Paso Doble challenging but extremely rewarding. Being theatrical in nature, it requires a great deal of showmanship, if not acting ability. Very similar to the Flamenco, it requires a haughty and confident attitude for the male.

The United States first began taking notice of the dance in the 1930s, however it has never really caught on in the English-speaking countries because it is not a dance you can do without a lot of experience. For this reason, it is a great opportunity for seasoned dancers to learn something novel that will be received well by audiences. A dynamic dance that requires extensive professional training, the Paso Doble is not a dance for the uninitiated. If you are a strong performer, however, few dances are as impressive or stylistic. If the conqueror is in your blood, step up to the challenge. Ole! N'est-ce pas? - 30231 About the Author: Looking for dance lessons nyc area? Visit DanceTimesSquare.com and work with the pros from So You Think You Can Dance! Receive a private dance lesson at their New York studio for $20! Learn Foxtrot, Waltz, Paso Doble, Cha-Cha, Salsa and other ballroom & Latin dances | BallroomMagic, Vernon NJ Others Foxtrot The Slow Foxtrot is a favorite among many ballroom dancers...think about the smooth dancing of Fred and Ginger.

Because of its smoothness, it is often referred to as the Rolls Royce of the standard dances. Once you learn the Foxtrot, you really feel like a dancer. (The quicker version of the Foxtrot developed into the Quickstep.) Foxtrot Characteristics A beautiful, romantic dance, the Foxtrot is composed of fairly simple walking steps and side steps. The dance combines slow steps, which use two beats of music, and quick steps, which use one beat of music. The footwork timing is usually "slow, quick, quick" or "slow, slow, quick, quick." The Foxtrot must be danced very smoothly, with no jerking of the body. Timing is also a very important component of the Foxtrot. As the Foxtrot is more challenging than other styles of dance, it is usually recommended to master the Waltz and Quickstep prior to attempting it. Swing Swing dance is a lively style of social dancing in which a dancer often lifts, spins and flips his or her partner. Considered both hip and cool, swing dancing is a favorite among social dancers of all ages. Swing Style: It's not difficult to spot swing dancers...look for the couple with the biggest smiles having the most fun.

Swing dance is characterized by lots of swinging, flipping and throwing of dancers. It is a non-progressive dance style because it is mostly performed in one spot, it is a popular dance for a crowded dance floor. Swing is a quick, fast-paced dance. Couples hold hands as opposed to placing hands on the shoulders or around the waist, as ballroom dancers do. Swing dancing takes a little practice, but once you learn the steps, you may never want to stop swinging. Swing Dances: The term "swing" refers to a variety of unique partner dances. • East Coast Swing: Seen often on club or tavern dance floors, this dance was influenced by the Foxtrot. • West Coast Swing: A slotted dance in which the follower travels back and forth along a rectangle, or slot. • Jitterbug: An umbrella term generally referring to swing dancing. • Jive: Jive is a fast-paced variation of the Jitterbug. (adapted from About.com) Paso Doble Paso Doble, or Pasodoble, is a lively dance modeled after the drama of the Spanish bullfight. Paso doble actually means "two-step." Paso Doble Characteristics The Paso Doble is a theatrical Spanish dance.

Traditionally, the man is characterized as the matador (bullfighter) and the lady as his cape in the drama of a Spanish bullfight. The dancers may choose to enact the role of the torero, picador, banderillero, bull, or Spanish dancer, and may change roles throughout the dance. Based on Flamenco dancing, the Paso Doble is both arrogant and passionate. The Paso Doble is performed more as a competition dance than as a social dance. Paso Doble History The Paso Doble originated in southern France and began gaining popularity in the United States in the 1930s. Because the dance developed in France, the steps of the Spanish Paso Doble actually have French names. Quickstep Much like a fast version of the Foxtrot, the Quickstep is a ballroom dance style composed of extremely quick stepping and syncopated feet rhythms in time to fast-paced music. Although difficult to master and perform, the Quickstep is lots of fun to watch. Characteristics of Quickstep Elegant, smooth and glamorous, Quickstep dancers are energetic while appearing extremely light on their feet. It should appear that the feet of the dancers barely touch the ground. Much like the Foxtrot, dancers should strive for elegance.

Upper body posture must be straight and strong throughout each movement. Quickstep Action The Quickstep usually follows a 4/4 time pattern. The basic feel of the Quickstep is slow-quick-quick, slow-quick-quick, with "slow" taking beats one and two, and "quick-quick" taking beats three and four. Most of the "slow" steps are taken on the heel, while most "quick" steps are taken on the balls of the feet. Viennese Waltz The Viennese Waltz is the classic, original Waltz often featured in old films. The elegance and charm of the Viennese Waltz reminds us of glamorous balls in the palaces of Europe. A waltzing couple rotates around the floor, revolving gracefully around each other. The Viennese Waltz is a quick, rotating dance, much faster-paced than the classic, slow Waltz. This simplied social version is a beautiful, non-strenuous dance that dancers of all abilities can enjoy. Viennese Waltz Characteristics The Viennese Waltz is characterized by sweeping turns that move gracfully around the floor. This dance is known for its simple and elegant rotational movement.

Waltz The romantic Waltz is one of the most popular ballroom dances of all time. Considered by some as the "mother of present day dances" and the "backbone dance" of the ballroom, the Waltz is the basis for many dances. Developed in Germany, the Waltz is popular all over the world. A truly romantic dance, the Waltz is comprised of soft, round, flowing movements. Waltz Characteristics The Waltz is a smooth dance that travels around the line of dance. Characterized by its "rise and fall" action, the Waltz includes a step, slide, and step in 3/4 time. Dancers should move their shoulders smoothly, parallel with the floor instead of up and down. Dancers must strive to lengthen each step. On the first beat of the music, a step is taken forward on the heel, then onto the ball of the foot with a gradual rise to the toes, continuing on to the second and third beats of the music. At the end of the third beat, the heel is lowered to the floor to the starting position. Source: About.com Guide Cha-Cha he Cha Cha is one of the most popular of the social Latin-American dances.

Lively and flirtatious, the Cha Cha is full of passion and energy. Cha Cha Characteristics The Cha Cha is a vibrant, flamboyant and playful dance. The light and bubbly feel of the Cha Cha gives it a unique sense of fun for dancers throughout the world. The Cha Cha requires small steps and lots of hip motion (Cuban motion), as it is danced in 4/4 time. The fourth beat is split into two, giving it the characteristic 2,3,4 & 1 rhythm. Therefore, five steps are danced to four beats as in the "One, two, cha cha cha" rhythm. History of the Cha Cha Also called the Cha Cha Cha, this unmistakable dance originated in Cuba in the 1940s. Composer and violinist Enrique Jorrin developed the dance as a variant of the Mambo and Rumba. The name is onomatopoeic, derived from the sound of dancers' shoes as they shuffled around the floor. Jive Jive is one of the five International Latin dances. A lively, and uninhibited variation of Jitterbug, many of its basic patterns are similar to those of East Coast Swing.

Characteristics of Jive Jive and East Coast Swing share many figures, as well as the same music style and tempo. The basic look and feel of Jive is lots and lots of energy, with the legs portraying a pumping action. Both the East Coast Swing and basic Jive consist of two triple steps and a rock step. The Jive differs in that the count begins with the rock step, which is counted "1,2." The two triple steps are counted "3 and 4" and "5 and 6." History of Jive Originating in the United States in the 1940s, Jive was influenced by the Boogie, Rock & Roll, African/American Swing and Lindyhop. Salsa Salsa is a popular social dance throughout Latin America as well as in North America, Europe, Australia, and some countries in Asia and the Middle East. Salsa dance movements originate from the Cuban Son dancing of the 1940s more specifically through the beat of Son Montuno with strong influences from the dance of Danzon, Mambo, Guaguanco and other Afro-Cuban folkloric dancing. Today there are many various styles of salsa dancing because of geographical dispersion and cultural syncretism.

Some of the most common styles are: LA-style, New York-style, and Miami-style. Miami-style Casino Developed by Cuban migrants to Florida and centered around Miami, this form of Cuban Salsa fused with American culture and LA Style. Major differences of Miami-style Casino is that it is exclusive dance to downbeat (On1) and has elements of shines and show style added to it following repertoires of North American Styles. Los Angeles style L.A. style is danced on 1, in a slot, with a measure of easiness and adaptability to it. It is strongly influenced by the Mambo, Swing, Argentine Tango and Latin Ballroom dancing styles. L.A. style places strong emphasis on sensuousness, theatricality, aerobics and musicality. The two essential elements of this dance are the forward–backward basic and the cross-body lead. New York style Like LA-style salsa, New York style is danced in a slot. However, unlike LA style, it is danced on the second beat of the music ("on 2"), and the follower steps forward on the first measure of the music, not the leader.

Though he did not create New York style salsa, Eddie Torres is credited with popularizing it, and for having the follower step forward on the first beat. New York style salsa emphasizes harmony with the percussive instruments in salsa music, such as the congas, timbales, and clave, since many or all of those instruments often mark the second beat in the music. (adapted from Wikipedia.com) Mambo Originally from Cuba, the Mambo is enjoyed throughout the world at both the social and competitive dance levels. The mambo is a favorite of ballroom audiences because of its high energy level and infectious rhythms. Popularized in recent years by singers such as Ricky Martin, the Mambo is fascinating and diverse. Mambo Characteristics The feel of the Mambo is based mostly on forward and backward movements. The basic components of the dance include rock steps and side steps, with occasional points, kicks and flicks of the feet. Important to Mambo is the distinctive hip movement, hence the meaning of the word mambo: "shake it." Mambo Action Some say the Mambo is a flirtacious, sensual dance, sometimes almost raunchy. Mambo dancers appear quite passionate and seem to express that passion with the movements of their hips.

Exaggerated hip movements combined with long, flowing movements and sharp, quick steps contribute to the sensuous feel of the Mambo. Rumba The Rumba is a dance that tells a story of love and passion between a strong, male lover and a coy, teasing woman. Full of sensual movements, the Rumba is considered by many to be the sexiest of the ballroom dances. "Rumba" is a term that refers to a variety of dances or a "dance party." This dance of love is one of the most popular ballroom dances and is seen around the world at nightclubs, parties, weddings and dance competitions. Rumba Characteristics The Rumba is a very slow, serious, romantic dance with flirtation between the partners. The dance is fun to watch, as many of its basic dance figures of the dance have a teasing theme in which the lady flirts with and then rejects her male partner, often with apparent sexual aggression. The Rumba spotlights the lady's rhythmic body movements and hip actions resulting in intense, almost steamy, scenes of passion.

History of Rumba The rumba is often referred to as the "grandfather of the Latin dances." Originating in Cuba, it first came to the United States in the early 1920s. The Rumba is the slowest of the five competition Latin and American dances. Samba Developed in Brazil during the 19th century, the Samba is considered the dance of celebration and joy at Carnival celebrations in Rio. Lively and rhythmical, there are many types of Samba dances, just like there are many types of Samba music. Ballroom partner Samba, one of the popular Latin dances in ballroom competitions, is made up of many different South American dances mixed into one. In Brazil, a Samba dancer is known as a Sambista. Samba Characteristics Before Samba became a ballroom dance style, there were many styles of partner dances as well as solo Samba dances. As with the solo Samba, partner ballroom Samba has a quick beat that requires fast footwork. Over the years, the Samba has incorporated elaborate tricks, turns, and acrobatic feats into its basic set of figures.

The main characteristics of the Samba are rapid steps taken on quarter beats and a rocking, swaying motion of the dancers. Tango One of the most fascinating of all dances, the tango is a sensual ballroom dance that originated in South America in the early twentieth century. Tango is usually performed by a man and a woman, expressing an element of romance in their synchronized movements. Originally, the tango was performed only by women, but once it spread into Argentina, it developed into a dance for couples. The popularity of the tango has greatly increased over the years. Argentine Tango is much more intimate than Modern Tango, and is well-suited to dancing in small settings. Argentine Tango retains the intimacy of the original dance. Tango Styles: Several different styles of tango exist, each with its own individual flair. Most of the styles are danced in either open embrace, with the couple having space between their bodies, or in close embrace, where the couple is closely connected at either the chest or the hip area. Many people are familiar with "ballroom tango," characterized by strong, dramatic head snaps. Tango Techniques: Tango is danced to a repetitive style of music.

The count of the music is either 16 or 32 beats. While dancing the tango, the lady is held in the crook of the man’s arm. She holds her head back and rests her right hand on the man's lower hip. The man must allow the lady to rest in this position while leading her around the floor in a curving pattern. Tango dancers must strive to make a strong connection with the music as well as their audience. Source: About.com Guide Other Dances Pasodoble - iSnare Free Encyclopedia Pasodoble This article is about the Spanish dance and music genre. For the German NDW band, see Paso Doble (band) . For the Romanian film, see Pas în doi . For the song by Ringo Starr, "Pasodobles", see Liverpool 8 . This article may be expanded with text translated from the corresponding article in Spanish. (November 2010) Click [show] for important translation instructions. View a machine-translated version of the Spanish article. Google's machine translation is a useful starting point for translations, but translators must revise errors as necessary and confirm that the translation is accurate, rather than simply copy-pasting machine-translated text into the English Wikipedia.

Do not translate text that appears unreliable or low-quality. If possible, verify the text with references provided in the foreign-language article. After translating, {{Translated|es|Pasodoble}} must be added to the talk page to ensure copyright compliance . For more guidance, see Wikipedia:Translation . This article needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2010) Festeros parading Pasodoble as a military march Pasodoble on ice: Luca Lanotte & Anna Cappellini Poster for a bull fight in Barcelona Paso Doble, (meaning double-step in Spanish) is a Spanish light music, with a binary rhythm and moderated movement, probably based in typical Spanish dances of the 16th century. During the 18th century it was incorporated to comedies and was adopted as a regulatory step for the Spanish infantry, with a special feature that makes the troops take the regular step: 120 steps per minute. The music was introduced in bullfights during the 19th century.

It is played during the bullfighters' entrance to the ring (paseo) or during the passes (faena) just before the kill. It corresponds to the pasodoble dance (traditional and ballroom ). Paso Doble is a lively style of dance to the duple meter march -like pasodoble music. It is modelled after the sound, drama, and movement of the Spanish and Portuguese bullfight . The traditional version as couple's dance originated in France, and was then adopted in Spain and Portugal. Its original form as a Spanish military march is still interpreted nowadays in the context of the Moor and Christian festivals, in the southeast region of Spain, being the major focus of current pasodoble productions. Famous bullfighters have been honoured with pasodoble tunes named after them. Other tunes have been inspired by patriotic motifs or local characters.

Contents La Virgen de la Macarena Pasodoble hace salir el sol (The Pasodoble makes the sun come up) Mexican pasodobles El Piti, El Charro Cárdenas, El 11-81, San Antonio de Triana, Fermincito, Lorenzo Garza, El abuelito, El banderillero, María Caballé, El Berrendito de San Juan, Tarde de toros, Por tapatías, Toros en San Miguel, Rodolfo Gaona, Joselito Huerta, Toros de Llaguno, La Macarenita. By Agustín Lara : Silverio Pérez, El Novillero, Fermín. Dance Traditional Amparito Roca being played by a wind band Pasodoble is based on music played at bullfights during the bullfighters' entrance (paseo) or during the passes (faena) just before the kill. The leader of this dance plays the part of the matador . The follower generally plays the part of the matador's cape, but can also represent the shadow of the matador, as well as the flamenco dancer in some figures.

The follower never represents the bull, althrough it is commonly thought this way. Its origin dates back to a French military march with the name "Paso Redoble." This was a fast paced march, which is why this is a fast-paced Latin American dance modeled after the Spanish bullfight. Bullfighting was well known around this time. Ballroom A significant number of pasodoble songs are variations of España Cañi . The song has breaks or "highlights" in fixed positions in the song (two highlights at syllabus levels,[ clarification needed ] three highlights and a longer song at Open levels). Highlights emphasize music and are more powerful sounding than other parts of the music, usually, dancers have decoration trick and then the position that is to be held to the end of the highlight. Traditionally pasodoble routines are choreographed to match these highlights, as well as the musical phrases . Accordingly, most other ballroom pasodoble tunes are written with similar highlights (those without are simply avoided in most competitions). Because of its inherently choreographed tradition, ballroom pasodoble for the most part is danced only competitively, almost never socially, or without previously learned routine.

This said, in Spain , France , Vietnam , Colombia , Costa Rica and some parts of Germany it is danced socially as a lead (not choreographed) dance. In Venezuela , pasodoble is almost a must-have dance in weddings and big parties, being especially famous by the song "Guitarra Española" by Los Melódicos. In competitive dance, modern pasodoble is combined with other four dances ( samba , cha-cha-cha , rumba and jive ) under the banner International Latin . Modern pasodoble dance consists of two dancing parts and one break in between for dancers of class D and of three parts and two breaks in between for dancers of class C, B, A, according to the IDSF classification. [2] Dancers of lower than D-class usually perform only four official dances of Latin-American Program. Pasedoble Galaball2011 Paso Doble Dance - SpanishTwo Step By Treva Bedinghaus Updated February 29, 2016. Paso Doble, or Pasodoble, is a lively dance modeled after the drama of the Spanish bullfight.

Paso doble actually means "two-step." Paso Doble Characteristics The Paso Doble is a theatrical Spanish dance. Traditionally, the man is characterized as the matador (bullfighter) and the lady as his cape in the drama of a Spanish bullfight. The dancers may choose to enact the role of the torero, picador, banderillero, bull, or Spanish dancer, and may change roles throughout the dance. Based on Flamenco dancing, the Paso Doble is both arrogant and passionate. The Paso Doble is performed more as a competition dance than as a social dance. Paso Doble History The Paso Doble originated in southern France and began gaining popularity in the United States in the 1930s. Because the dance developed in France, the steps of the Spanish Paso Doble actually have French names. Paso Doble Action One of the most dramatic of all the Latin dances , the Paso Doble is a progressive dance. continue reading below our video 5 Hobbies That Give Your Brain a Workout In the Paso Doble, dancers take strong steps forward with the heels, and incorporate artistic hand movements. The forward steps, or walks, should be strong and proud.

The man should also incorporate apel, a move in which he strongly stamps his foot, much like a matador strikes the ground in order to capture the attention of the bull. All moves of the Paso Doble should be sharp and quick, with the chest and head held high to represent arogance and dignity. Distinctive Paso Doble Steps In Spanish, "Paso Doble" means "two step" and refers to the marching nature of the steps. The dance consists of several dramatic poses that are coordianted with highlights in the music. The body is held upright with the feet always directly underneath the body. The following steps are distictive to the Paso Doble: Sur Place (on the spot) Separation Open Promenade to Open Counter Promenade Spanish Line Just Dance Ballroom :: Dance Styles Waltz There are two main styles of ballroom dancing -- American and International. American style is danced primarily in the USA. It's also not as standardized as International style, which is danced and known worldwide. Here in the USA, American style is practiced more for social dancing while International style is primarily seen in competitions. People will dance either American or International style socially, and competitions may include both styles.

There are two categories: In American style, the categories are called Smooth and Rhythm and in International style they are called Standard and Latin. For the most part, the Standard and Smooth categories contain the same dances and the Latin and Rhythm categories contain basically the same dances. These are listed in the order that they are danced in competitions. American Style Standard -- Waltz, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot , Quickstep Latin -- Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble, Jive There are also other social styles of dances that are not ‘strictly ballroom’ but rather "fun" although "non-traditional." They include the hustle, salsa, merengue, west coast swing, Argentine tango, lindy and Hip Hop. The five most popular Ballroom dances in the world are Foxtrot, Waltz, Rumba, Cha Cha, and Swing. Dancers skilled in these five dances can dance with partners from any part of the world. To distinguish between International and American styles, look for two points: the dance position used is probably the easiest way to tell apart the Standard and Smooth dances.

International Standard is danced almost exclusively in closed dance positions while American Smooth allows more open work where the partners can separate from each other and dance in open positions. The Latin and Rhythm dances tend to be a bit harder to tell apart. The dancers' leg action is probably the best clue as to which style they're dancing. In American Rhythm, the dancers will use a bent leg action allowing them to delay their change of weight on the step, so you will frequently see them with bent legs. However, in International Latin, the dancers usually have the look of two straight legs which comes from the faster change of weight on the step. There are also many fusion dances that combine the elements of two or more dance styles into a new dance. These new dances are springing up primarily in metropolitan areas where the dance populations are large, vibrant and hungry for creative opportunities within the specific social dance communities to which they belong. Foxtantino is a new fusion dance that connects the American and International styles of Foxtrot to Argentine Tango. This dance was designed specifically for the Ballroom community. It uses the teaching methods, technique and language of the ballroom dances so Foxtantino is easy for Ballroom dancers to learn and dance with each other.

Ballroom dancers are intrigued and fascinated with Argentine Tango, but, many do not want to give up their dance frame, their Ballroom culture and/or acquire new music appreciation skills and fully enter into the Argentine Tango community. Foxtantino provides Ballroom dancers the fun and excitement of Argentine Tango while keeping to the style of dancing with which they are familiar. ARGENTINE TANGO The Tango originated in Buenos Aires during the late 19th Century and began as one of many different forms of tango dances. Modern Argentine Tango styles are danced both in open (Tango Nuevo) and closed embraces (traditional) that focus on the leader and the follower moving in harmony with the passionately charged music. The dance relies on improvisation by the leader since Argentine Tango doesn’t have a formal basic structure like other dances. Fortunately for learning purposes, teachers have fashioned a basic form in order to teach beginners. The tango is essentially walking with a partner to music keeping your feet close to the floor as you move with your ankles and knees brushing as one leg passes the other. Argentine Tango is different from ballroom tangos in its posture, embrace, improvisational techniques, movement, balance, steps and music.

If your background is in American or International tango, your introduction to Argentine tango will be like learning a completely new dance. Top | Calendar AMERICAN TANGO The American tango is a descendent of the original tango from Argentina and continues to evolve. Among those influences, the technical International (English) style Tango, the dramatic Paso Doble, and even the original Argentine style continue to contribute to its evolution. But American is still best known as both the simplest and the showiest of all Tangos. Footwork: In Tango the feet pick up and place onto the floor, rather than gliding along in constant contact with the floor. The foot action is highly articulated, often being compared to the sneaking or stalking action of a cat. Forward walks are placed with the heel first, then flat. Backward walks are taken with a toe first, with the heel lowering as the body moves over it. At the same time, the toe of the forward foot should release from the floor as the body moves away. Side steps and chasses normally use a whole foot or ball-flat action. Rise & Fall: There is no rise & fall action in Tango. The body level should remain constant throughout.

Contra Body Movement: Forward walks normally curve gradually to the left, therefore the left foot forward walk is taken with CBM, while the right foot forward walk is taken with a right side leading. Backward walks also normally curve gradually to the left, therefore the right foot backward walk is taken with CBM, while the left foot backward walk is taken with a left side leading. Tango uses a modified dance hold, more compact than the normal closed position ballroom hold. The man and lady stand slightly farther offset, causing the man's right arm to be positioned farther around the lady's back so that the fingers of his right hand lay across her spine. Instead of placing her left arm on top of his, she will hook her forearm underneath his elbow and upper arm. Her wrist will be positioned directly underneath his arm (possibly, but not necessarily in contact) with palm facing inward, her fingers just reaching his torso. The lady's right hand and man's left hand are joined in an upper-hand clasp at approximately the lady's eye level. The man's left and lady's right elbow may be held slightly higher than normal, with a more acute angle at the elbow.

Top | Calendar CHA-CHA Originally called the Cha-cha-cha, this dance evolved from the Mambo and the Rumba on Cuban dance floors in the 1950’s. It is danced to Latin music with strong African and Cuban rhythms. The Cha-cha has a 4/4 syncopation where 5 steps are danced in 4 beats of music. Its unmistakable counting “one, two, cha-cha-cha” requires that the dancers use small steps. The Cha-cha is a very flirtatious dance filled with a catch-me-if-you-can attitude between partners. Hip movements and bending and straightening of the knees give the Cha-cha the classic Cuban motion. Partners work together to synchronize their movements in perfect parallel alignment. Top | Calendar Bolero Bolero is a 3/4 dance smooth, sophisticated, sentimental ballroom dance that originated in Spain in the late 18th century. The emphasis is on smoothness, grace and communication between partners. Bolero has the same Afro-Cuban roots as the Rumba and is thought to have originated in Cuba. The music is frequently Spanish vocals with a subtle percussion effect.

The dance is itself a slow salsa, with a taste of Tango and has easy patterns. The Bolero is a modification of the Fandango. The original dance was invented in about 1780 by Sebastian Cerezo a celebrated dancer from Cadiz, Spain. It was danced singly or in couples, the dancers exhibiting complex and intricate movements while maintaining the rattle of their castanets. The dance should tell the story of a couple falling in love. The partners change from a very close hold to solo dancing, and then come together as one. The American Style Bolero is a unique dance style combining the patterns of Rumba with the rise and fall technique and character of Waltz and Foxtrot. The music is 4/4 time, and is danced to the slowest rhythms of the Latin ballroom dances (the spectrum runs Bolero, Rumba, Cha Cha, Mambo). The basic rhythm of steps in patterns, like Rumba, is Slow-Quick-Quick.

Foxtrot The Foxtrot is truly an American dance, credited to Harry Fox and dating back to 1914 when he was reportedly doing rapid trotting steps with his partner to Ragtime music (the original form of Jazz), and it was originally referred to as “Fox’s Trot”. Since those early vaudeville days both the music and the dance have changed into the more smooth and sauntering dance that we see today. Foxtrot is the classic social Ballroom dance- In most old movies when you see a large crowd dancing close with their partners to a big band, they are doing Foxtrot. Foxtrot is danced to jazz or Big Band music, the same style of music that you would dance swing to. Speed is usually the deciding factor that makes a song better for Foxtrot (danced with a 4/4 rhythm and 110-150 beats/minute tempo) or for Swing (danced to 120-250 beats per minute), but you can usually dance a slow swing to any Foxtrot tune. In fact it is fun and not too difficult to go back and forth between Swing and Foxtrot in the same dance.

Foxtrot is danced in a closed position (facing your partner and holding them close). The walking steps are taken as “slows” (2 beats per step) or “quicks”(1 beat per step), with the most common Foxtrot rhythms being SQQ, SQQ or SSQQ, but ultimately the dancers may use whatever rhythm that they choose, which allows them to change their dance to fit the music. Many people mistakenly think that Foxtrot is a difficult dance to learn , but this is usually because they are thinking of more complicated styles of Foxtrot such as International Style and American Silver and Gold Styles, that are used mainly in performances and competitions. Basic social Foxtrot (sometimes referred to as American Bronze Style) is fun and simple to learn, an excellent dance for beginners. Foxtantino Foxtantino is a new fusion dance that connects the Ballroom American and International styles of Foxtrot to Argentine Tango. This dance was designed specifically for the Ballroom community. It uses the teaching methods, technique and language of the ballroom dances so Foxtantino is easy for Ballroom dancers to learn and dance with each other.

Ballroom dancers are intrigued and fascinated with Argentine Tango, but, many do not want to give up their dance frame, their Ballroom culture and/or acquire new music appreciation skills and fully enter into the Argentine Tango community. Foxtantino provides Ballroom dancers the fun and excitement of Argentine Tango while keeping to the style of dancing with which they are familiar. For more information about Foxtantino, click here Hip Hop Funk Hop is a combination of Hip Hop and Funk which blends quick moves with smooth foot work. Funk is fast, powerful and passionate. People like James Brown, Hammer and Michael Jackson have this style. It is what you would see if you were to attend a house party in Oakland. Funk is what you do at parties. Hip Hop is slower with a lot of posing. It mixes modern dance and jazz moves. This makes it more assessable and commercial. This is what you see in today’s music videos. Many dances, such as Funk, Hip Hop, Boogaloo and Krunk originated in the Black Urban World. Many of the best dancers are not on television and would not be selected for a music video, but their moves are used all the time. For a comprehensive description of Hip Hop, click here .

HUSTLE The Hustle (Disco) was born in the Latin Clubs and Discos of the 1970’s. It has lots of open traveling movements, spins and syncopations and is danced to, disco and house music with a pulsing beat.. The Hustle is often peppered with showy moves that competitive dancers weaved into their repertoire throughout the late 1970’s and 1980’s; as it continued to evolve, Hustle began to borrow from other dance styles. These included Smooth Ballroom, from which it took traveling movements and pivots, as well as other partner dance forms such as Swing, the Latin Rhythm dances, Martial arts, Gymnastics, Ballet training, and good old fashioned attitude making for crowd pleasing performance. Hustle combined dance patterns and movements that influenced the way that most partner dances are performed today. Even today the dance continues to evolve, yet it has never lost its basic count since the mid-1970’s of “&1-2-3”. The Hustle is the last authentic American partner dance born and cultivated here in the United States.

Top | Calendar JIVE Jive is a dance style that originated among African Americans in the early 1940s. It is a lively and uninhibited variation of the Jitterbug that belongs to the Swing dance group. Modern Jive, sometimes called French Jive is a dance style that originated in the 1980s. It derives from Swing, Lindy Hop and may include Rock 'n' Roll and others, the main innovation being simplification of footwork. Moves from many forms of ballroom dance including Salsa and Tango may also be included. Modern Jive is generally danced to music with 4 beats to the bar from latest chart hits to Big Band music. Some styles may concentrate on particular musical styles, such as swing. Modern Jive is a male led dance but women are encouraged to ask men to dance. Nightclub Two-Step The Night Club Two Step is an easy dance with a characteristic rock step followed by a side step, which is actually a 5th position break. The dance has 8 beats and rarely changes from the 1 & 2 count. The tempo is 30-34 bars per minute and is often done to medium tempo music.

Not to be confused with country two step, this club-style Two Step dance style features a swaying lilt. It was created and popularized by California dance teacher Buddy Schwimmer more than 30 years ago when he was only 15. MERENGUE Merengue is mainly a club dance set to fast Latin music. It is characterized by dramatically swinging hips and a closed hold position. The couple steps side to side in sets of 8 to 2/4 music, turning clockwise or counterclockwise and features a characteristic hip swing and graceful arm flourishes. It is the national dance of the Dominican Republic and there are a number of popular versions as to the origin of this dance. One story claims the dance originated with slaves who were chained together, and, of necessity, were forced to drag one leg as they cut sugar cane to the beat of a drum. The second story maintains that a great hero was wounded in the leg during one of the many insurrections in the Dominican Republic. A party of villagers welcomed him home with a victory celebration and out of sympathy everyone dancing felt obliged to limp and drag one foot.

The Dominicans themselves maintain Merengue is a combination of two dances, one African and the other the French Minuet, from the late 1700's - to early 1800s.The Black slaves saw the ballroom dancing in the Big Houses and when they had their own festivities started mimicking the "masters’ dances". But the European dances were uninteresting so the slaves added a special upbeat (provided by the drums), which was a slight skip or a hop. The original Merengue was not danced by individual couples, but was a circle dance, men and women faced each other, holding hands at arms' length. They did not hold each other closely and the original movements of this dance were only the shaking of the shoulders and swift movements of the feet. There was no blatant movement as there is today as ethnic African dances do not move the hips. In fact, African dances consisted of complicated steps and arm movements. Ethnic dance does not have sexual shaking of the hips this is only done in Hollywood movies. Not only is it performed on every dancing occasion in the Republic, but it is very popular throughout the Caribbean and South America. A lot of variety exists in Merengue music.

Ideally suited to small, crowded dance floors, it is a dance that is easy to learn and very enjoyable to perform. PASO DOBLE Paso Doble originated in France, but is reminiscent of the sound, dramas and movement of the Spanish bullfight. Paso Doble means "two step" in Spanish. It is a dance for the Man, which allows him to fill the "stage" with strong three-dimensional shapes and movements danced with "Pride and Dignity". The woman's role varies depending on the interpretation of the dance. The woman can take the role of the matador's cape, the bull or even the matador at different times within the dance. Characteristics of the Paso Doble are the "marching" flavor given to the steps and the cape movements creating tension between both dancers. The CHASSEZ CAPE is when the man uses the woman as the cape in order to turn her around. APEL is when the man stamps his foot as if trying to attract the bulls' attention. During the dance the use of castanets is simulated. The ARPEL is a commencement of a movement with the stamping of the feet where the man and woman walk in different directions.

Because of its inherently choreographed tradition, ballroom Paso Doble for the most part is usually only danced competitively, almost never socially – unless there is a previously learned routine. Top | Calendar Quickstep The Quick step is a descendent of the Boston and the One Step which appeared on the scene with the arrival of Ragtime and Jazz music in America towards the end of the nineteenth century. These two were the first dances based on the forward step. They used a heel lead followed by two or more steps on the balls of the feet. It was first performed on stage in New York in 1922 in a black revue by George White, and then in the stage show "Running Wild" in 1923 by the Ziegfeld Follies, which toured U.S.A. It was popularized in Europe by Josephine Baker in Paris in the 1920's. It was danced with wild swinging arms and side kicks to music at 200 to 240 beats per minute. It subsequently became very popular worldwide, but the wild character of the dance induced many sedate ballrooms either to ban it altogether, or to put up notices saying simply "PCQ", standing for "Please Charleston Quietly".

The Black Bottom and the Shimmy became very popular in the USA between 1910 to 1920, and became a national craze after being performed in the Ziegfeld Follies in 1922. These dances became absorbed into a faster version of Foxtrot after a visit by Paul Whiteman's band to the UK in 1923, becoming known as the Quickstep. The Quickstep was developed to interpret music with a faster tempo. It is a fast moving dance based on walks and Chasses danced to music of four beats per bar at 50 bars per minute, or 200 beats per minute. It retains the walks, runs, chasses and turns, of the original Foxtrot, with some other fast figures such as locks, hops, and skips added. Top | Calendar Rumba The Rumba, widely considered the most romantic and sensual of the Latin dances, has a magnetic interplay between its partners. Sometimes called the Grandfather of the Latin dances, the Rumba made its way from Cuba to the United States in the early 1920’s. Rumba music is in 4/4 time and there are four beats in each measure.

Two measures of music are required for a full basic step. In four beats of music, three steps are taken. Essential to Rumba is the Cuban motion achieved through knee-straightening, figure-eight hip rolls and swiveling action of the feet. Strong and direct walks lead by the ball of the foot are also characteristic of the Rumba. Top | Calendar Samba Samba is a lively, rhythmical dance of Brazilian origin in 2/4 time danced under the Samba music. However, there are three steps to every bar, making the Samba feel like a 3/4 timed dance. There are two major streams of Samba dance that differ significantly: the modern Ballroom Samba, and the traditional Brazilian Samba. Rio de Janeiro is the type of Samba seen in Brazilian Carnival parades. The ballroom Samba is danced to music in 2/4 or 4/4 time. The basic movements are counted either 1-2 or 1-a-2, and are danced with a slight downward bouncing or dropping action. This action is created through the bending and straightening of the knees, with bending occurring on the beats of 1 and 2, and the straightening occurring on the "a".

As a ballroom dance, the samba is a partner dance. Ballroom samba, like other ballroom dances, is very disconnected from the origins and evolution of the music and dance that gives it its name. It is a form created for its suitability as a partner dance. The dance movements, which do not change depending on the style of samba music being played, borrows some movements from Afro-Brazilian traditional dances. Top | Calendar Salsa Salsa is not easily defined. Who invented salsa? The Cubans, Puerto Ricans? Salsa is a distillation of many Latin and Afro-Caribbean dances. Each played a large part in its evolution. Salsa is similar to Mambo in that both have a pattern of six steps danced over eight counts of music. The dances share many of the same moves. In Salsa, turns have become an important feature, so the overall look and feels are quite different form those of Mambo. Mambo moves generally forward and backward, whereas, Salsa has more of a side to side feel. Top | Calendar East Coast Swing Swing music has an infectious accent on the upbeat and makes even non-dancers tap their feet, and snap their fingers.

The most elemental definition of Swing dancing is any style of dancing to Swing music, and there are hundreds of styles. Swing dancing is usually characterized by its bounce and energy as well as lots of spins or under arm turns. The original style of Swing dancing is the Lindy Hop which was named by Shorty George Snowden in 1927 after Charles Lindberg’s famed nonstop flight across the Atlantic. Known by many for its acrobatic moves called arials, Lindy Hop is also danced socially featuring 8 count and 6 count patterns, often with kicking or Charleston steps. Examples of Lindy Hop can be seen in recent movies such as Malcolm X or Swing Kids, or older movies like A Day at the Races or Hellzapoppin. There are many different definitions and styles, but when most people refer to basic swing dancing, they are referring to a simplified version of the original Lindy Hop, favoring 6 count moves and also referred to as 6- count swing, east coast swing, jitterbug, and Lindy.

Six-count swing can be danced to jazz or big band music from speeds of 110 beats per minute to 300 beats per minute, but most people enjoy dancing to the 120-180 beat per minute range. The 6 count basic can be modified in many ways, but is most common as rock-step, triple-step, triple-step (often referred to as triple time or triple step swing) or rock-step, step, step (often referred to as single step or single time swing). 6 count swing is easy to learn, especially when done with the single step rhythm. The triple step rhythm is better suited for slower songs, and can be substituted for the single step once you are comfortable with the steps. Swing music and dancing are two of the most important cultural imports of America, learning how to dance can be a great way to connect with a part of our history. Top | Calendar West Coast Swing West Coast Swing is a smooth and sexy dance style that is danced in a slot (a narrow line), making it perfect for a crowded dance floor. West Coast Swing is danced to a variety of music, including rock, blues, funk, country/western, disco and contemporary pop.

West Coast Swing also stresses leader-follower connection and dancing in close harmony with the music. Basically, West Coast Swing consists of 6-beat and 8-beat patterns executed in a slot area on the dance floor, and can be danced to a variety of styles of music. It has enjoyed a rise in popularity in the last few years, due partly to the work of the U.S. Open Swing Dance Championships. Top | Calendar Waltz The introduction of the Waltz was the scandal of 19th century English society. Never before had a man and woman danced publicly in a virtual embrace. Fortunately the grace and beauty of the Waltz were noticed, and English society, so quick to denounce the dance, eventually "embraced" it. In fact, Queen Victoria was an exquisite ballroom dancer who developed a passion for the Waltz. Johann Strauss can be credited with the persistence of the Waltz in mainstream ballroom dancing with his fast paced Waltz compositions that paved the way for the quicker Viennese style. In America the Waltz tempo slowed to form a more smooth and graceful gliding dance with a gentle "rise and fall" motion. Today the Waltz persists as the oldest of ballroom dances and perhaps the best loved.

The Waltz is unique in that it is the only ballroom dance written in 3/4 time. There are three beats to each measure, counted as "1-2-3" or "quick-quick-quick." Typically, there are three steps of equal duration per measure, with the Hesitation being the exception. The lead foot alternates with each measure (i.e., Left-2-3-Right-2-3). Because of this, Waltz combinations are usually written in a series of six steps. One of the most distinguishing features of the Waltz is the 3/4 time signature that it is played in. This means that each measure has 3 beats rather than the more common 2 or 4. Waltz is counted 1-2-3 with a heavy accent on the 1. You can not dance other dances such as foxtrot, swing, or tango to waltz music because of this three beat grouping. Graceful turning moves are very characteristic of the Waltz. Today, the Waltz is most commonly danced in the Viennese, country or ballroom style.

Viennese originates from England and is danced mostly in competitions by more advanced dancers, while American Style is more suitable to beginners and those who want to dance Waltz socially. A beginner dancer should start with country or American style Waltz. Viennese Waltz is danced very fast and is characterized by an almost nonstop turning and is one of the most difficult forms of Waltz to learn. Country and ballroom styles of Waltz are very similar, with the country style danced at a slightly faster pace and incorporating more moves in open and side-by-side positions. Ballroom Waltz can be divided into American and International Styles. International Style as LRL (left-right-left) and the second as RLR (right-left-right), for a total of six steps. Top | Calendar Viennese Waltz The Waltz is a dance performed to music with three beats to the bar, and gives the dance a delightful romantic lift. The first record of a dance to 3/4 rhythm is a peasant dance of the Provence area of France in 1559, as a piece of folk music called the Volta, although the Volta has also been claimed to be an Italian folk dance at this time.

The word "Volta" means "the turn" in Italian. This, even in its earliest days, the dance appears to have involved the couple turning as they danced. During the 16th Century, the Volta became popular in the royal courts of Western Europe. The Volta required the partners to dance in a closed position but with the lady to the left of the man! As in any turning dance, as the couple perform their step around their partner, they have to take a larger than usual step to get from one side of their partner to the other. In order to do this in the Volta, the partners had to hold each other in such a close embrace that many declared it immoral. Louis XIII (1610-1613) had it banned from court on this account. Thus although the Volta may have originally been in 3 time, it evolved to be in 5 time. In 1754 the first music for the actual "Waltzen" appeared in Germany. Any connection between the Waltzen and the Volta remains obscure, except that the word "waltzen" in German also means "to revolve".

The dance became very popular in Vienna, with large dance halls being opened to accommodate the craze. In 1812 the dance was introduced into England under the name of the German Waltz and it caused a great sensation. Through the 19th Century, the danced stabilized, and was further popularized by the music of Josef and Johann Strauss. Currently, the Viennese Waltz is danced at a tempo of about 180 beats per minute, with a limited range of figures: change steps, hesitations, hovers, passing changes, natural and reverse turns, (traveling or on the spot as Fleckers), and the contra check.

Question: Modelled on the Spanish bullfight, in which country did the Paso Doble dance originate?
Answer: France